A mail carrier claims a dog attacked her as she attempted to perform her job duties, causing her to endure scarring and disfigurement.

Tina Line filed a lawsuit Oct. 4 in Madison County Circuit Court against David and Maureen Bell.

In her complaint, Line claims she was delivering mail to the Bells' residence at 1200 McDonough Lake Road in Collinsville on April 10 when their chocolate Labrador Retriever attacked her, scratching and biting her body.

Because of the attack, Line claims she endured great fright, shock and emotional distress; experienced pain and mental anguish; and incurred medical costs. In addition, she lost her normal life and suffered scarring and disfigurement, according to the complaint.

She blames the Bells for allowing their dog to attack her, saying they negligently failed to properly secure their door to keep their dog from getting out, failed to install a curbside mailbox, failed to place the dog in a crate on a day that mail was due, failed to restrain the dog in the presence of a letter carrier and failed to warn the mailman that the dog was not restrained.

In her six-count complaint, Line seeks a judgment of more than $300,000, plus costs and other relief the court deems just.

John Smith of Callis, Papa, Hale and Szewczyk in Granite City will be representing her.